AMHERST – With three wins in its last four weeks, the UMass football team has tried not to think about what might have been if the Minutemen had finished off some of the games earlier in the season where wins were at least in reach.
Instead, the focus is on what’s still attainable. A win in either of the final two games would give the Minutemen the most victories in a single season since upgrading to the FBS and potentially give the team and program momentum and confidence heading into 2018.
“We faced adversity early on and that brought us closer together,” senior tight end and captain Adam Breneman said. “It forced a lot of the younger guys to grow up pretty fast. We’re a much better football team that when we played Hawaii. Coach Whip gets a lot of credit for keeping us positive. He said when it flips for us, it’ll flip fast, and the breaks will start to go our way. I think it’s kind of reached that point now.”
UMass coach Mark Whipple said he’s seeing a different team in front of him than he did earlier in the year.
“We’re certainly a more confident group. It’s a big step, but this group has more confidence than any of our other teams,” Whipple said. “We just have to play well.”
On Saturday they have a chance to beat the highest profile football program it has ever beaten when they travel to BYU. This Cougar squad is struggling at 3-8 overall, but has won two of its last three.
“BYU is a tough team. They’re record probably doesn’t show it, but we’re going to respect them,” said linebacker Bryton Barr. “We’re going to walk in there and expect to win.”
Junior quarterback Andrew Ford said beating a team of BYU’s caliber would mark the next step of UMass’ development.
“Each week we’ve been getting better and better, and we’re starting to get the results we’ve been working for,” he said. “We have to finish strong. We have a tough challenge this week. Any time you can go on the road and get a win, it’s a big step. We’re worried about playing our game and letting everything else take care of itself.”
Time & location: 3 p.m. LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah
Records: UMass is 3-7; BYU is 3-8.
Last week: UMass beat Maine, BYU beat UNLV.
All-time series: BYU leads 1-0
TV/Internet: BYUtv/ WatchESPN App
Radio: 105.5 FM
When UMass has the ball: Ford practiced fully this week and expected to be sharper than he was against Maine. Ford wasn’t cleared top return from his concussion until the day before the Maine game.
“I’m back in my normal routine practicing with the guys,” Ford said. “I feel more a part of it this week.”
BYU defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki told the Deseret News that UMass’ scheme presented a challenge.
“It’s the most complex scheme that we’re seeing all year” he said. “There’s a lot of unbalanced stuff, a lot of formations and different things that give you problems if you’re not sound.”
BYU has allowed 165.6 yards per game on the ground and 221.8 in the air.
Senior Fred Warner leads BYU with 77 tackles including 9.0 for loss.
When BYU has the ball: The Cougars have a had a pretty solid balance between running and passing this season.
The return of a tailback Squally Canada (92 carries, 549 yards), who was injured earlier, makes them a better rushing team.
Freshman Joe Critchlow will make his second start at quarterback, which has been an unstable spot for BYU this season. He’s 20 of 33 for 219 yards and a touchdown in his one start and three appearances off the bench. He hasn’t been intercepted.
Matt Vautour can be reached at mvautour@gazettenet.com. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage